The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has announced that mineral sample testing will now be conducted locally, ending the reliance on foreign laboratories.
Dr. Alake made this known on Thursday during the commissioning of an ultra-modern mineral analysis laboratory in Sabon-Wuse, Niger State. The laboratory, built by African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML), marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s mining sector.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, the minister emphasized that ANRML’s initiative aligns with the federal government’s commitment to fostering local value addition in the solid minerals sector. He noted that the laboratory is the first of its kind in Nigeria and a vital step toward achieving the ministry’s 7-point agenda for repositioning the mining industry.
“You are not only aligning with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda but also contributing to our ministry’s 7-point agenda, with local value addition being a critical component. This internationally certified lab will significantly benefit the sector, as it will handle mineral samples previously sent abroad for testing, positioning Nigeria as a key player in global mineral analysis,” Dr. Alake stated.
The minister commended ANRML’s efforts and urged the company, which also operates an iron ore mining and processing plant, to sustain its investments. He assured the company of federal government support, highlighting the potential for job creation and economic growth.
ANRML’s Group Managing Director, Alok Gupta, expressed gratitude to the minister for inaugurating the facility and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s mining sector.
“The world-class laboratory commissioned today will analyze solid mineral samples. Recognizing the need for such a facility in Nigeria, we decided to establish this laboratory using the latest technology. I am proud to announce that we are the only company in Nigeria certified with the prestigious ISO 7025 from the Canadian Association of Laboratory Accreditations and other internationally recognized bodies for testing laboratories,” Mr. Gupta said.
The state-of-the-art facility, equipped with advanced WDXRF machines, offers a comprehensive range of geochemical services tailored to exploration and mining industries.
The event concluded with Dr. Alake cutting the ribbon to officially open the ultra-modern mineral analysis laboratory.
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Opeoluwa Benson – Content Researcher
